Free Throw Training Aid

ABSTRACT

A free throw training aid including a frame adapted for positioning on a floor below a hoop attached to a backboard. The free throw training aid includes a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard. A substantially horizontal standard attaches between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. A shooter is intended to shoot a basketball over the horizontal and between the spaced apart ball guides. Visual feedback is provided to the shooter or an observer by comparing the angle of the based upon a comparison of the pair of spaced apart ball guides to a flight of the ball after it passes over the horizontal standard and upon its decent to the rim and the entry angle as the ball enters the hoop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to sport training aids and more particularly to a basketball free throw training aid.

2. Background

In basketball, there is some small debate regarding the anatomy, or more properly the physics, of a consistent free throw, but there is no disagreement regarding the numbers that reflect successful free throws completed. The numbers reflect that men college players as a whole have achieved a statistical average of just below seventy percent. In professional basketball, the average hovers around the seventy-five percentile. What is more, it is widely agreed that while the free throw is the single most repeatable shot in the game of basketball, there has been little to no improvement in that average in at least forty years. Regarding the components of the free throw it is widely accepted that the markers of a consistently scoring free throw include a launch angle in the range of fifty to fifty-five degrees from horizontal and an entry angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal.

A variety of devices have been offered that are aimed at helping the player and the coach in improving the players free throw percentage by aiding the shooter in achieving a more repetitive free throw and hence a more consistent result. There are a number of patents that are directed to devices that include a horizontal bar or element placed between the shooter and the basket to encourage the shooter to increase the height of the trajectory of the shot to a desired level. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,527, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,926, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,136, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,556, U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,349, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,132 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,551.

What is needed is a free throw training aid that provides a visual feedback to both the shooter and/or an observer regarding entry angle of the ball, from which information regarding ball launch angle and velocity may be derived.

Advantage may be found then in a providing a free throw training aid that provides a visual feedback regarding entry angle of the ball, from which information regarding ball launch angle and velocity may be derived.

Advantage may be found in a providing a free throw training aid that allows for adjustment of a height of a horizontal standard above the floor and the distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard simultaneously while maintaining an angle from horizontal that each of a pair of diagonal spaced apart ball guides extend from a device frame.

Advantage may also be found in providing a free throw training aid that provides for adjustment of a width of a pair of spaced apart ball guides through which the shooter tosses the ball in executing a free throw in order to increase difficulty of the shot.

Advantage may also be found in providing a free throw training aid that provides for adjustment of the device between a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches and an erected configuration wherein the device is configured for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard. The device includes a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below a hoop attached to the basketball backboard. A pair of spaced apart ball guides is attached to the frame and extends diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard. A horizontal standard is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. The device includes means for adjusting a height of the horizontal standard above the floor and means for adjusting a distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard. In a preferred embodiment these adjustments are made by extending or retracting the pair of spaced apart diagonal guides. Because each of the pair of spaced apart ball guides extend or retract diagonally, both a height of the horizontal standard above the floor and a distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard are increased or decreased simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, each of the spaced apart diagonal guides is configured having two or more sections that cooperate with one another to telescopically extend or retract. Alternately other arrangements may be employed where two or more sections are held in sliding relationship to one another.

In the preferred embodiment, the pair of spaced apart ball guides extends diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees from horizontal. In other embodiments, the pair of spaced apart ball guides extends diagonally from the frame at an angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. In one embodiment each of the spaced apart diagonal guides includes a tubular segment, one being larger than the other such that the diameter of the smaller one fits within the diameter of the larger one in a telescoping fit that may be locked one with respect to the other for selectively setting a distance between the guides. Alternately other arrangements may be employed where two or more sections are held in sliding relationship to one another.

A distinct advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is found in the fact that the shooter and a coach or other observer may both receive visual feedback based upon viewing the flight of the ball after it passes over the horizontal standard and upon its decent to the rim and the entry its angle as the ball enters the hoop compared to a longitudinal axis of one or both of the diagonal spaced apart ball guides. Preferably entry angle as the ball enters the hoop should also be in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diagonal spaced apart ball guides, which as previously noted preferably extend from the frame at an angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal.

The shooter also receives visual feedback based upon the height of the ball above a horizontal standard during ball flight. The shooter is trained to release the free throw so that its trajectory exhibits a flight that is a set and repeatable height above the horizontal standard. If the ball hits the horizontal standard or flies too close to the standard, an entry angle that is too low is indicated to the shooter and either or both the launch angle and/or the velocity of the ball upon release must be increased. Conversely, if the ball flies too far above to the standard, an entry angle that is too high is indicated to the shooter and either or both the launch angle and/or the velocity of the ball upon release must be decreased.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, also includes a ball return system that includes a barrier configured as a net that extends approximately from a first outer edge of the backboard, attaching to a first net support member that extends from the device frame, around the front of the device, attaching to the pair of diagonal spaced apart ball guides and returning to attach near a second outer edged of the backboard to a second net support member that extends from the device frame. The ball return system also includes a ring disposed beneath the basketball hoop to which a lower marginal edge of the barrier is attached. A ball catch and a pair of rails are positioned beneath the ring to catch a ball as it drops through the ring directing the ball onto the pair of rails and back towards the shooter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a representative side view of a free throw training aid in use according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a representative front view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a representative perspective view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representative side view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a representative side view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a representative detail view of a frame of a free throw training aid according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows free throw shooter S shooting ball B along trajectory T. Preferably the shot is initiated having a launch angle LA substantially equal to 52 degrees and a velocity sufficient to allow the trajectory to terminate at hoop H with an entry angle EA substantially equal to 45 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of basketball free throw training aid 10 is shown positioned on floor F below basketball hoop H which is attached to backboard BB. Basketball free throw training aid 10 includes frame 11 which in turn includes base 12 mounted on a plurality of wheels 13 one or more of which may be of the locking variety so that once positioned beneath hoop H as shown, the device may be locked to prohibit movement. Frame 11 also includes upright frame section 14 attached to base 12. First frame brace 21 and as seen in FIG. 2, second frame brace 22 are shown stabilizing upright frame section 14.

FIG. 2 shows first ball guide 15 and second ball guide 16 attached to frame 11 and extending from frame 11 along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to backboard BB. As seen in FIG. 1, first ball guide 15, which is typical of second ball guide 16, extends diagonally from upright frame section 14 and is supported by first ball guide brace 25. As seen in FIG. 2, second ball guide 16 is supported by second ball guide brace 26. As seen in FIG. 1, an angle at which first ball guide 15 extends from upright frame section 14 may be adjusted or selected by removing screw 24 that holds first ball guide 15 with respect to first ball guide brace 25, moving first ball guide 15 to any of a variety of angles and replacing screw 24 to secure first ball guide 15 at the selected angle with respect to first ball guide brace 25. FIG. 1 shows first ball guide 15 set at a preferred guide angle GA substantially equal to 45 degrees, which as previously noted is equal to the preferred entry angle EA at which ball B enters hoop H. Referring again to FIG. 2, horizontal standard 20 is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides, first ball guide 15 and second ball guide 16.

FIG. 1 shows horizontal standard 20 set at a selected elevation E above floor F and a selected distance D from backboard BB. As seen in FIG. 1, first ball guide 15, which is typical of second ball guide 16, includes first telescopic section 17 pivotably attached to upright frame section 14 at connector 19. Second telescopic section 18 is telescopically extendable from first telescopic section 17. Elevation E and distance D of horizontal standard 20 may be simultaneously increased or decreased as first and second ball guides 15 and 16 are extended or retracted. Preferably, horizontal standard 20 is set at an elevation E equal to a height of hoop H plus zero to twenty-four inches. Additionally, horizontal standard 20 is set at a distance D from backboard BB in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of free throw training aid 30 including frame 31. Frame 31 includes frame base 32 mounted on a plurality of wheels 33 one or more of which may be of the locking variety. Frame 31 also includes upright frame section 34 attached to frame base 32. First frame brace 35 and second frame brace 45 as seen in FIG. 3, stabilize upright frame section 34. FIG. 3 also shows ball caddy 85 suspended from a plurality of frame uprights 84. Ball caddy 85 is configured to hold a plurality of balls for storage and transport.

First ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65 are shown attached to and extending from frame crossbar 53. First ball guide 60 extends diagonally from frame crossbar 53 and is supported by first ball guide brace 50. Similarly, second ball guide 65 extends from frame crossbar 53 and is supported by second ball guide brace 55. Horizontal standard 75 is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides, first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65.

FIG. 3 also shows a pair of net support arms, first net support arm 70 and second net support arm 90, which attach to and extend from frame crossbar 53. Ball collection net 80 is attached to the pair of net support arms 70 and 90 and first and second ball guides 60 and 65. A lower edge of ball collection net 80 attaches to net ring 81. Ball catch 82 directs a ball that is caught within ball collection net 80 and is directed through net ring 81 onto ball return rails 83 which direct the ball back towards a shooter.

FIG. 4 shows basketball free throw training aid 30 arranged in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches. Preferably the storage configuration should permit basketball free throw training aid 30 to be transported through a doorway having a height of eighty inches and a width of thirty-six inches.

FIGS. 4-9 show basketball free throw training aid 30 including frame 31. Frame 31 includes frame base 32 mounted on a plurality of wheels 33 one or more of which may be of the locking variety. Frame 31 also includes upright frame section 34 attached to frame base 32. First frame brace 35, which is typical of first frame brace 45 seen in FIGS. 3 and 5-9 is shown attached between frame base 32 and upright frame section 34 to stabilize upright frame section 34.

FIGS. 4-9 show first ball guide 60, supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by first ball guide brace 50, and second ball guide 65, seen in FIGS. 5 and 7-9, shown supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by second ball guide brace 55. FIGS. 4 and 6 also show first ball guide 60 supported in part by first ball guide brace 50.

FIGS. 4-9 also show ball caddy 85 suspended from a plurality of frame uprights 84. Ball catch 82 is configured to catch a ball and direct it onto ball return rails 83 which direct the ball back towards a shooter.

Referring again to FIG. 4, upright frame section 34, first ball guide 60 and first net support arm 70 are all seen lowered in a storage configuration. FIG. 6 is a side view of basketball free throw training aid 30 with first ball guide 60, including first ball guide upper segment 62 extended for use from first ball guide lower segment 61.

FIGS. 7-9 show free throw training aid 30 including frame 31 having frame base 32 mounted on a plurality of wheels 33. Upright frame section 34 attaches to frame base 32. Ball caddy 85 is configured to hold a plurality of balls for storage and transport. Free throw training aid 30 as shown in FIGS. 7-9 includes first ball guide 60 including first ball guide lower segment 61 attached to frame crossbar 53 by first ball guide pivotable connector 64 and slideably engaging first ball guide upper segment 62 and held in position with respect thereto by first ball guide set screw 63. First ball guide 60 is further supported in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by first ball guide brace 50. Second ball guide 65 includes second ball guide lower segment 66 attached to by second ball guide pivotable connector 69 and slideably engaging second ball guide upper segment 67 and held in position with respect thereto by second ball guide set screw 68. Second ball guide 65 is further supported in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by second ball guide brace 55. Horizontal standard 75 includes first horizontal tubular segment 76 and second horizontal tubular segment 77 held in position with respect to one another, at least partially, by horizontal width adjustment set screw 78. Horizontal standard 75 is connected between first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65.

Free throw training aid 30 as shown in FIGS. 7-9 also includes first net support arm 70 having first net support arm lower tubular segment 71 attached to frame crossbar 53 by first net support arm pivotable connector 58 and slideably engaging first net support arm upper tubular segment 72 and held in position with respect thereto by first net support arm set screw 73. First net support arm 70 is held against upright frame section 34 by first net support bale 74.

FIGS. 7-9 also show second net support arm 90 having second net support arm lower tubular segment 91 attached to frame crossbar 53 by second net support arm pivotable connector 59 and slideably engaging second net support arm upper tubular segment 92 and held in position with respect thereto by second net support arm set screw 93. Second net support arm 90 is held against upright frame section 34 by first net support bale 94.

FIG. 10 is a detail view showing frame cross bar 53 attached to vertical slide member 52 which slideably cooperates with vertical frame element 51. A vertical position of vertical slide member 52 with respect to vertical frame element 51 is maintained by slide set screw 54.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-9, a sequence of views steps taken in setting up free throw training aid 30. Initially width W, as shown in FIG. 5, between first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65 may be adjusted by loosening horizontal width adjustment set screw 78 of horizontal standard 75 and moving first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65 in or out as desired extending or retracting horizontal first tubular segment 76 in or from horizontal second tubular segment 77. When a desired width W is selected, width W is set by tightening horizontal width adjustment set screw 78.

Next, first ball guide 60, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by first ball guide brace 50, and second ball guide 65, seen in FIG. 5, shown supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar 53 by second ball guide brace 55, are extended. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted that first ball guide 60 includes first ball guide lower tubular segment 61 pivotally attached to frame cross bar 53 by first ball guide pivotable connector 64. First ball guide upper tubular segment 62 slideably engages first ball guide lower tubular segment 61. Similarly. Referring to FIG. 5, second ball guide 65 includes second ball guide lower tubular segment 66 pivotally attached to frame cross bar 53 by second ball guide pivotable connector 69. Second ball guide upper tubular segment 67 slideably engages first ball guide lower tubular segment 66.

Referring to FIG. 5, to extend first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65, first ball guide set screw 63 and second ball guide set screw 68 are loosened and first ball guide upper tubular segment 62 and second ball guide upper tubular segment 67 are extended until first ball guide 60 and second ball guide 65 reach a desired length. First ball guide set screw 63 and second ball guide set screw 68 are then re-tightened.

Referring to FIG. 7, the next step taken in configuring free throw training aid 30 for use involves extending first net support arm 70 and second net support arm 90. First net support set screw 73 and second net support set screw 93 are loosened and first net support arm upper tubular segment 72 is extracted from first net support arm lower tubular segment 72 and extended beneath first net support bale 74. When a desired length is achieved, first net support set screw 73 is re-tightened. Similarly, with second net support set screw 93 loosened, second net support arm upper tubular segment 92 is extracted from second net support arm lower tubular segment 91 and extended beneath second net support bale 94. Again, when a desired length is achieved, second net support set screw 93 is re-tightened.

Referring to FIG. 8, the next step taken in setting up free throw training aid 30 involves raising upright frame section 34 from frame base 32. Before raising upright frame section 34, first vertical frame section set screw 42 and second vertical frame section set screw 43 are loosened. Upright frame section 34 includes first vertical frame tubular slide element 56 slideably engages first frame base upright 40. Similarly, second vertical frame tubular slide element 57 slideably engages second frame base upright 41. As upright frame section 34 is raised with respect to frame base 32, first vertical frame tubular slide element 56 remains slideably engaged with first frame base upright 40. Similarly, second vertical frame tubular slide element 57 remains slideably engaged with second frame base upright 41. Lateral support for upright frame section 34 continues to be provided by engagement of first vertical frame tubular slide element 56 with first frame base upright 40 and second vertical frame tubular slide element 57 with second frame base upright 41. Upright frame section 34 together with the connected structure including, first and second ball guides 60 and 65 respectively, first and second net support arms 70 and 90 respectively, all attached to frame cross bar 53 may be raised by lifting frame cross bar 53 and the attached upright frame section 34 to a desired selected height and first vertical frame section set screw 42 and second vertical frame section set screw 43 are then re-tightened.

Referring again to FIG. 9, the next step taken in configuring free throw training aid 30 for use is shown. It will be noted that frame 31 includes vertical frame element 51 attached to upright frame section 34. Frame cross bar 53 is attached to vertical slide member 52 which slideably cooperates with vertical frame element 51. A vertical position of vertical slide member 52 with respect to vertical frame element 51 is maintained by slide set screw 54. To raise vertical slide member 52 and its attached structure, slide set screw 54 is loosened and frame cross bar 53 is lifted to a desired position where slide set screw 54 is re-tightened. It should be noted that a height of horizontal standard 75 may be increased or decreased incrementally simply by incrementally raising or lowering slide member 52 and the attached frame cross bar 53. Referring again to FIG. 10 vertical slide member 52 is shown including incremental height indicator 95. Sight window 96 is formed including index pointer 97 which may be aligned with one of the plurality of index hash marks 98 which represent the incremental raising or lowering of vertical slide member 52 and the attached horizontal standard 75.

Similarly, it should be apparent that a height of horizontal standard 75 may be increased or decreased incrementally simply by incrementally raising or lowering upright frame section 34. Finally, it bears noting that a height of horizontal standard 75 may also be increased or decreased incrementally by incrementally extending or retracting first ball guide upper tubular segment 62 with respect to first ball guide lower tubular segment 61 and second ball guide upper tubular segment 67 second ball guide lower tubular segment 66 with respect to second ball guide pivotable connector 69.

The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiment(s) and implementation(s) disclosed. Modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. At least one preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and a best mode of practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention and the various modifications that are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . .” 

What is claimed is:
 1. A free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard having a basketball hoop, the free throw training aid comprising: a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below the basketball hoop; a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each of the pair of spaced apart ball guides extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard; and a substantially horizontal standard disposed between the pair of spaced apart ball guides; means for adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard above the floor; and means for adjusting a distance of the substantially horizontal standard from the backboard.
 2. The free throw training aid of claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard further comprises means for simultaneously adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard above the floor and a distance of the substantially horizontal standard from the backboard.
 3. The free throw training aid of claim 1 wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees.
 4. The free throw training aid of claim 1 wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees.
 5. The free throw training aid of claim 1 wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of telescoping spaced apart ball guides.
 6. The free throw training aid of claim 1 wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides.
 7. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides.
 8. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising: the frame adapted to be configured alternately in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches; the device being further adapted to be configured alternately in an erected configuration wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each extend diagonally from the frame; and the substantially horizontal standard is set at an elevation from the floor equal to a height of the hoop plus zero to twenty-four inches, and the substantially horizontal standard is set in front of the backboard at a distance in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches.
 9. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball collection net.
 10. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball return gutter.
 11. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball storage caddy.
 12. A free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard having a basketball hoop, the free throw training aid comprising: a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below the basketball hoop; a first telescoping ball guide attached to the frame and extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard; a second telescoping ball guide attached to the frame and extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard in a spaced apart relationship to the first telescoping ball guide; a substantially horizontal standard disposed between the first ball guide and the second ball guide; and the frame including an incremental height indicator configured to indicate a height of the substantially horizontal standard relative to the frame.
 13. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising: the first ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees; and the second ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees.
 14. The free throw training aid of claim 12 further comprising: the first ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees; and the second ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees.
 15. The free throw training aid of claim 12 wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides.
 16. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the first ball guide and the second ball guides.
 17. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising: the frame adapted to be configured alternately in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches; the device being further adapted to be configured alternately in an erected configuration wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each extend diagonally from the frame; and the substantially horizontal standard is set at an elevation from the floor equal to a height of the hoop plus zero to twenty-four inches, and the substantially horizontal standard is set in front of the backboard at a distance in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches.
 18. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball collection net.
 19. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball return gutter.
 20. The free throw training aid of claim 1 further comprising a ball storage caddy. 